Lots of famous and impressive jewellery have been lost to history. Very often their symbolic nature leads to a new regime wanting to destroy them and what they represent. Sometimes they are simply looted or just annihilated in the ensuing destruction of war or revolution. The Ruskian Imperial House suffered an embarresing fall after the Great War. Some of the Imperial Jewels were saved by the fleeing remnants of the Imperial Family but most were lost in the chaos. A famous ruby set known as the Imperial Ruby Parure is one such set that is lost to this day.
In this photo taken in 1949, Her Imperial Majesty Tzarina Feodorovna, wife of Tzar Alexander III wears the Imperial Ruby Parure. The photo was presumably taken whilst she was still only a Grand Duchess before her brother-in-law's death. Many pieces of the Ruskian jewels were available for use by the top ranking members in the family.
Tzar Alexander III of Ruskiana is the long deceased great-great grandfather of Grand Duchess Xenia the current pretender to the Ruskian throne. His was a title and "court" that lasted mere weeks in pretence as his brother, Tzar Ivan X and his family were killed by rebels during the aftermath of the Great War. Alexander III succeeded him but was never crowned. He in turn was killed while fleeing the country a few months later with his young family.
Many pieces of family jewels also survived by escaping with members of the extended Imperial family. However the Imperial Ruby Parure seems to have been lost to history as no records of it exists in the archived catalogue of the Bolshevik Government who annexed the Imperial jewels after the revolution. The parure consisted of a sumptuous tiara set with diamonds and very large rubies, earrings employing very rare red pearls, and two necklaces inclusive of red pearls and seed rubies. It is presumed obviously that many pieces of jewelry were merely looted by soldiers but legends abound of servants and monks who hid pieces of sentimental or religious significance in the hope of an Imperial Restoration. The large cross suspended from the necklace was a famous icon said to employ red pearls that gained their colour from being dyed in the wine that was made from water in one of Christ's miracles. This legend might have led a superstitious servant to hide it.
We can only hope that if the parure survived that it might one day be found, in what might also be termed a miracle.
Tzar Alexander III of Ruskiana is the long deceased great-great grandfather of Grand Duchess Xenia the current pretender to the Ruskian throne. His was a title and "court" that lasted mere weeks in pretence as his brother, Tzar Ivan X and his family were killed by rebels during the aftermath of the Great War. Alexander III succeeded him but was never crowned. He in turn was killed while fleeing the country a few months later with his young family.
Many pieces of family jewels also survived by escaping with members of the extended Imperial family. However the Imperial Ruby Parure seems to have been lost to history as no records of it exists in the archived catalogue of the Bolshevik Government who annexed the Imperial jewels after the revolution. The parure consisted of a sumptuous tiara set with diamonds and very large rubies, earrings employing very rare red pearls, and two necklaces inclusive of red pearls and seed rubies. It is presumed obviously that many pieces of jewelry were merely looted by soldiers but legends abound of servants and monks who hid pieces of sentimental or religious significance in the hope of an Imperial Restoration. The large cross suspended from the necklace was a famous icon said to employ red pearls that gained their colour from being dyed in the wine that was made from water in one of Christ's miracles. This legend might have led a superstitious servant to hide it.
We can only hope that if the parure survived that it might one day be found, in what might also be termed a miracle.
Hello from Spain: as always your jewelry collection and real tiaras are stunning. I like the photo. Keep in touch
ReplyDeleteYou are my favourite fan Marta, thank you. So glad you like the photo. I'm sure it will inspire you.
DeleteI really love all of the history that you include... and thank you so much for your input on the necklaces on my blog! I love seeing all of the tiaras here :)
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. I hope it helps. Thank you for the compliment.
DeleteWhich kind of doll is Her Imperial Majesty Tzarina Feodorovna?
ReplyDeleteI actually forgot. I think its called a Suzi Doll.
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